Proposal Planning & Writing

No matter whether you are approaching public or private sponsors, this thorough and detailed step-by-step guide will enable you to plan and write winning proposals.

Grantseeking is always a competitive process. As organizational needs outstrip resources, groups turn to grants as a means of strengthening their financial footing while pursuing their missions. This book draws on the authors' three decades of grantseeking experiences in writing successful proposals, conducting grant workshops nationwide, reviewing government and foundation proposals, and critiquing application guidelines for grantmakers to lead readers through the process of planning and writing successful proposals.

The authors first provide practical strategies for project planning, including identifying sponsors, matching grantseeker needs to sponsor priorities, and qualifying prospects through pre-proposal contacts. The authors then guide users systematically through proposal writing, including introducing a template for letter proposals to private foundations and corporations, describing the primary elements of government proposals, and providing tips for constructing a realistic budget. This advice as well as the key questions to answer before you begin writing; actual proposals that were declined, with rejection reasons; and complete sample letter proposals comprised in this volume will help both beginning and experienced grantseekers to better plan and develop fundable projects.

Preface
Part I: Finding Sponsors and Planning Proposals
Chapter 1. Introduction to Grantseeking
Chapter 2. Finding Public Funds
Chapter 3. Finding Private Funds
Chapter 4. Preproposal Contacts
Part II: Writing Private Foundation and Corporation Proposals
Chapter 5. Letter Proposal Template
Chapter 6. Letter Proposal Examples
Part III: Writing Government Proposals
Chapter 7. Problem Statement
Chapter 8. Goals, Objectives, and Outcomes
Chapter 9. Methods
Chapter 10. Evaluation
Chapter 11. Dissemination
Chapter 12. Budgets
Chapter 13. Sustainability
Chapter 14. Appendixes
Chapter 15. Abstracts
Part IV: The Final Steps
Chapter 16. Writing and Editing Techniques
Chapter 17. Grant Review and Funding Decisions
Bibliography
Index